u/Smooth-Quantity-7024

I know this is stupid but I'm feeling lonely and isolated and could really do with a virtual hug

I haven't been on Hinge for many months while I'm trying to get in better shape, but also because I only have three useful photos. I hate having my picture taken but I also rarely encounter a time where I can have a candid picture taken without having to ask someone to do it.

Last time I was on there though, I used two photos. One was of me thoughtfully reading a book called "How to Take Dating App Photos That Aren't Shit" and another was of me laying on a couch cheerfully taking shots of something I can only describe as reckless, surrounded by indigestion tablets and using a copy of Crash Bandicoot as a coaster. The first one used to get some likes, while I ended up on a date with someone who responded directly to the second.

However, I know there's a fine line with these kinds of photos. I'm wondering what people's takes are on photos specifically designed to try and make the other person laugh.

I'm pretty introverted and the quality of my social life is probably on par with Huw Edwards. I'd like to go travelling more, but even if I had the nads to go on my own, I'd probably end up spending most of my time in the hotel.

I've heard about these group holidays that solo travellers go on to mix and do things together with other people, but my dumb ass brain just imagines either me being the only one who doesn't fit in, or the chemistry in the group is just wank.

Has anyone ever done one of these, and if so, how did it go?

A couple of months back, I ended up in A&E with severe stomach pains and vomiting. It was pinned on dehydration, but it kicked off again a couple of weeks later and I assumed it was food poisoning. Another bout a few weeks later despite making sure I was drinking enough and eating the right stuff made me figure something was up, and the doctors have had a nightmare trying to figure out what it is. I knew it wasn't what I was eating, as I intentionally spent a week eating food that someone with stomach issues should not eat, and I didn't have any issues.

I've been on 7.5mg since last October and I've been stuck from moving up because of these lingering pains (albeit nowhere near as bad as they have been but mild symptoms still pop up every now and again) and the fact that I can't rule out MJ being the cause. As a result, I gained weight two weeks in a row for the first time, and after marking a 6 stone milestone in April, I'm pretty much in the same place two months later. That would be fine if I was at maintenance levels but I'm still trying to shift another 3 stone.

Only today has it been decided that I should be referred for an ultrasound to check for potential gallstones, all while I'm days away from ordering my next £230 pen that's doing less and less to help me. God knows when the appointment letter will come through the post.

Plus it's bastard hot outside and ice creams are on offer in Tesco.

I know this is far from the most excruciating situation people on this sub have been in and I apologise for making a mountain out of a molehill, but I just needed somewhere to moan. To quote some knobhead, thank you for your attention to this matter.

Given the "Scouse Not English" thing and the tendancy to boo the National Anthem, I'm curious as to whether Pele from Liverpool actually root for England when they're playing in tournaments like the World Cup?

I guess it's less relevant now we're in the streaming age and more and more comedians release stuff for free on YouTube, but I always found it strange that stand-up DVDs always ended up going for pennies in CeX and the like.

I know everything on DVD went down in value eventually but stand up DVDs always seemed to plummet in value much quicker than films and TV shows.

I get that they used to try and capitalise on the Christmas market but it's not like the DVDs got less funny once the season was over. So why did they almost always end up practically worthless?

I've been trying to hunt down a specific spec of a BMW X1 F48 given I don't seem to save any money by compromising.

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One of the sticking points has been the panoramic sunroof. I've never had one before and always wanted one, mainly because of the perceived advantage of brightening up the cabin and making it feel airy, but also it seems being able to open it on the six days we have any nice weather in the UK.

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If I can get enough counter arguments that a sunroof isn't all that great, it might make my search a lot easier.

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There's a girl who works in my local Costa who's cute AF but I'm painfully aware of the golden rule that you never ask someone out when they're working and make them feel awkward.

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So I guess the question is... What can I theoretically do?

I hear it all the time but I genuinely can't remember the last time I went for a walk with the explicit intention of "feeling better" and actually came back in a better mood. Does anyone else have the same experience, or am I just completely fucked in the head?

I grew up watching Ant and Dec with SMTV and then Saturday Night Takeaway, and I loved the fact that they were competent and professional while still being really laid back and natural.

That was until they got consumed by the ITV Mafia and Simon Cowell Cinematic Universe. I can't really work out exactly what went wrong, but they became so watered down and overly scripted and lost all their charm, in my opinion. They would either seem to pander to parents and young children, or they'd just sell out (having half of SNT taken up with competitions and product placements still depresses me). I'm a Celebrity was probably the closest they stayed to themselves, but far from perfect.

Since they started their podcast and I hesitantly gave it a go, I noticed they were much more like they used to be (albeit more mature). Their sense of humour and personalities shines through more and they seem much more like the early to mid 2000s era of Ant and Dec that I missed so much. Sure, they still suck up to BGT to the point where it almost feels contractual, and they're still taking sponsorships (what podcast doesn't) but it all makes me wish they'd turn around to ITV and Simon Cowell and say "we're done, get fucked" and just start doing stuff for the fun of it rather than the money. It's not like they're skint.

I'm slipping into a depressive episode and everything just seems so bleak. If you're willing to have a crack at making me smile it'd be hugely appreciated?

Just catching up with Fatboy Slim's set at Radio 1's Big Weekend and was wondering how much he's actually doing live on stage. He's a talented producer but there were moments where he's barely interacting with the equipment and the music sounds like something's been manipulated, if that makes sense. For all I know, the entire thing is pre-recorded and he turns some knobs to look like he's doing something. So how much is actually being done live when big DJs do live sets like this?

I've been on 7.5mg since last October and other than the occasional bout of the runs, things have been okay.

About a month ago, I went to A&E because of vomiting and severe pain in the right side of my stomach. This was blamed on dehydration and I sorted out my water intake. A week or so later, things kicked off again almost immediately after eating a Tesco ready meal of chicken in mushroom sauce. I assumed it was food poisoning.

The pain was coming and going and I eventually went to the GP. They ruled out any issue with my kidneys and appendix and figured it was a stomach lining issue. I was put on a month's prescription of Omeprazole and things were fine after a few days. In that time, I'd eaten the occasional meal one would absolutely discourage for any stomach issues (fast food, takeaways etc). It didn't seem to affect me.

However, on Monday night, after eating nothing I'd consider hazardous (and nothing I hadn't been eating for weeks prior) I had another bout of abdominal pain and vomiting. The GP is still trying to figure out what's going on.

Through all of this, a few people suggested it it was a side effect of MJ. I didn't give it any consideration because I'd been on 7.5mg for so long. However, now I'm back in no man's land in terms of trying to diagnose the issue, I'm not sure anymore. Is it worth taking a week's break or dropping back to 5mg for a while?